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Financial Assistance Programs - Grants and Loans
AREAS OF SPECIAL BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE (ASBS) PROGRAM
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The information below will be updated periodically. The FAQs are divided into four sections:
SECTION 1 - CONCEPT PROPOSAL
Q1. When and where will the Concept Proposal Applicant Assistance workshops be held?
Q2. Do I have to register for the Concept Proposal Applicant Assistance workshops?
Q3. When are Concept Proposals due?
Q4. How do I submit my Concept Proposal? To whom and where do I submit it?
Q5. What does the character limit mean in the Concept Proposal?
Q6. What is required in the Concept Proposal? What is the content of the Concept Proposal?
Q7. How do I receive email notifications about the ASBS Grant Program?
Q8. Are applicants required to fill in an agency contact in the Concept Proposal application?
Q9. Where can I find the latitude and longitude coordinates for my project location?
SECTION II - GUIDELINES
Q1. When were the Guidelines adopted?
Q2. Can reimbursable costs be applied toward a project’s matching funds?
Q3. Is land acquisition a reimbursable cost?
Q4. Are indirect costs and overhead costs reimbursable?
Q5. Are post-construction project performance and monitoring costs reimbursable or allowable as part of the match?
SECTION III - PROJECT/PROGRAM QUESTIONS
Q1. How do I know if my project falls in an Area of Special Biological Significance (ASBS)?
Q2. What is the project timing for the ASBS Grant Program?
Q3. What is the minimum and maximum grant amount awarded by the ASBS Grant Program?
Q4. Are planning and feasibility studies eligible project types for the ASBS Grant Program?
SECTION IV - DEFINITIONS
The following are definitions for terms that are not defined in Appendix E of the Guidelines.
Q1. What is the definition of a “local watershed group?”
Q2. What is the definition of a “cooperating entity?” Does the cooperating entity also need to meet the eligibility requirements?
Q3. What is the definition of an “agency contact?”
SECTION I - CONCEPT PROPOSAL
Q1. When and where will the Concept Proposal Applicant Assistance workshops be held?
State Water Board staff will host two applicant assistance workshops in April 2008, as follows:
- April 17th at Southern California Coastal Water Project, 9:30 - 11:30 AM
- April 23rd at North Coast Regional Board, 1-3 PM
Workshop agendas, logistics, and handouts are available on-line at: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/grants_loans/asbs.shtml
Q2. Do I have to register for the Concept Proposal Applicant Assistance workshops?
You do not need to register for any of the workshops, however, it would be preferred if an RSVP is made by replying to the contact listed on the email announcing the workshops.
Q3. When are Concept Proposals due?
The Concept Proposal Solicitation Notice will be issued on April 2, 2008. Once issued, applicants may start and complete their applications using the State Water Board’s on-line Financial Assistance Application Submittal Tool (FAAST). Concept Proposal applications must be submitted to FAAST by 5:00 PM on Thursday, May 22, 2008.
Q4. How do I submit my Concept Proposal? To whom and where do I submit it?
Your entire Concept Proposal application will be submitted on-line through the Financial Assistance Application Submittal Tool (FAAST).
Q5. What does the 1,000, 1,500 and 2,000-character limit mean in the Concept Proposal?
Each question in the online Concept Proposal Application has a character limit (approximately a quarter to a half of a page). Spaces count toward this character limit. This limit was established to help both applicants and State Water Board staff complete and review applications in a timely and efficient manner, without numerous attachments.
Q6. What is required in the Concept Proposal? What is the content of the Concept Proposal?
The Concept Proposal application consists of a preliminary section with questions automatically included online in the Financial Assistance Application Submittal Tool (FAAST).
The preliminary section questions cover the following subject areas: General Information, Funding Programs, Project Management, Legislative Information, Agency Contacts and Cooperating Entities.
There are thirty-five (35) questions in the main section of the Concept Proposal, which are divided into the following six sub-sections:
- I - Eligibility Determination
- II - Project Timeline
- III - Problem Definition
- IV - Source of Discharge
- V - Success of Technology/Solution, and
- VI - Project Effectiveness.
Additionally, there are sections for Bonus Points, Readiness to Proceed, Applicant Information and Disclaimer.
Additionally, there are two attachments required:
- Attachment #1 – Project Description will be a maximum of 2 pages in length and describe how the project addresses the ASBS problem, including information about each discharge the project is addressing.
- Attachment #2 – Project Site Map and Photos of the proposed site area affected ASBS location.
Please reference the Concept Proposal Solicitation Notice, which lists all sections that MUST be completed and submitted using the FAAST. Please refer to Appendix D of the Guidelines for detailed information on the Concept Proposal content.
Q7. How do I receive email notifications about the ASBS Grant Program?
If you would like to receive regular e-mail updates regarding the ASBS Grant Program, please subscribe to the "Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS) Grant Program - Prop. 84" LYRIS e-mail list on-line.
Q8. Are applicants required to fill in an agency contact in the Concept Proposal application?
The Financial Assistance Application Submittal Tool (FAAST) system will allow you to submit your application without filling out anything on the “Agency Contacts” tab. However, Question 1 (page 32 of the Guidelines) of the Concept Proposal Evaluation Criteria asks:
- “Does the Concept Proposal contain all the required information requested in the FAAST? (e.g., General Details, Project Budget, Project Location, Funding Source, Legislative Information, Contact Agency Information, Cooperating Entity Information, etc.)”
- A “No” response to this question indicates the applicant is not eligible to be invited back to submit a Full Proposal. Therefore, in order for your Concept Proposal to be eligible, your application must list the agencies you contacted in preparation of your Concept Proposal.
Q9. Where can I find the latitude and longitude coordinates for my project location?
Please try the following website: http://www.topozone.com
An applicant would need to enter the name of a place nearest to their project location, and run a search for it. The results will include the latitude and longitude for the location.
SECTION II - GUIDELINES
Q1. When were the Guidelines adopted?
The State Water Board adopted the final Guidelines on April 1, 2008.
Q2. Can reimbursable costs be applied toward a project’s matching funds?
Yes, eligible expenses incurred after the passage of Proposition 84 on November 7, 2006, and prior to the project completion date, may be applied to the cost match.
Q3. Is land acquisition a reimbursable cost?
No.
Q4. Are indirect costs and overhead costs reimbursable?
No, only direct costs related to the project are reimbursable.
Q5. What is the definition of an “Integrated Coastal Watershed Management Plan (ICWMP)”?
AB 866 (Pavely, Chapter 493, Statutes of 2003) directs the SWRCB to fund the development of one or more integrated coastal watershed management plans in watersheds that influence water quality in areas of special biological significance and requires consultations with the State Coastal Conservancy and the California Department of Fish and Game on selection of proposals (CWC § 79563.5).
SECTION III - PROJECT/PROGRAM QUESTIONS
Q1. How do I know if my project falls in an Area of Special Biological Significance (ASBS)?
ASBSs mean areas designated by the State Water Resources Control Board as requiring protection of species or biological communities to the extent that alteration of natural water quality is undesirable. All ASBSs are State Water Quality Protection Areas defined in Public Resources Code 36700(f). There are 34 designated ASBSs, which are listed in the California Ocean Plan.
Q2. What is the project timing for the ASBS Grant Program?
All projects must have a preliminary funding commitment approved no later than June 30, 2010. All funds must be disburse funds by June 30, 2013. All projects must be completed by March 31, 2013.
Q3. What is the minimum and maximum grant amount awarded by the ASBS Grant Program?
Sewer projects:
- Minimum Grant - $100,000
- Maximum Grant - $2,500,000
- Minimum Match - 75% of the total project cost
All other projects:
- Minimum Grant - $500,000
- Maximum Grant - $2,500,000
- Match –
- 5% cost match if population less than 10,000 OR DAC with less than 60% MHI
- 10% cost match if population less than 10,000 and less than 20,000 OR DAC with less than 80% MHI
- 20% cost match if population greater than 20,000 OR DAC with greater than 80% MHI
Q4. Are planning and feasibility studies eligible project types for the ASBS Grant Program?
Planning and feasibility studies that result in implementation of a project within the timeframe available are eligible. These proposals may not be very competitive since the problem and solution are not well characterized and it would be difficult to predict what the impact of the projects would be. Also, if a grantee did the planning or feasibility study and then did not construct a project, they would have to repay the grant funds used.
SECTION IV - DEFINITIONS
The following are definitions for terms that are not defined in Appendix E of the Guidelines.
Q1. What is the definition of a “local watershed group?”
California Water Code, Section 79078(b) states:
"Local watershed group" means a group consisting of owners and managers of land within the watershed of interest, local, state, and federal government representatives, and interested persons, other than landowners, who reside or work within the watershed of interest, and may include other persons, organizations, nonprofit corporations, and businesses.
Q2. What is the definition of a “cooperating entity?” Does the cooperating entity also need to meet the eligibility requirements?
A “cooperating entity” may be anyone the applicant is working with, whether an individual or group. Only the applicant needs to meet the eligibility requirements, not the cooperating entity.
Q3. What is the definition of an “agency contact?”
An “agency contact” is anyone you have contacted at a government agency (State Water Resources Control Board, Regional Water Quality Control Board, or partner agency) regarding your proposal. We want to know whom you have worked with from any government agency in preparing your proposal, whether it was asking one question or a longer in-depth discussion.
